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Research Projects at Wellington Zoo
Zoos around the world contribute to research by providing a controlled environment for non-domestic animals. With monitored diets and secure habitats captive animals are more used to human contact and are less stressed than wild animals when under close observation. Research results are used by conservation agencies to aid their conservation efforts. (Some zoos run their own research programmes in the wild).
For more information on any of these research projects please contact Edy MacDonald at Wellington Zoo.
Research at the Wellington Zoo includes:
• Metabolic bone disease in zoo fruit bats, in partnership with Sydney University
• Baseline diagnostic pictures of the tuatara, in partnership with Pacific Radiology
• Anatomical comparison of beaked whales of the southern ocean with CT/MRI systems, in partnership with Te Papa and Pacific Radiology
• Dentition of southern bottlenose dolphin whale, in partnership with Te Papa and Pacific Radiology
• Preference and demand procedures out of the lab and applied to enrichment with Wellington Zoo's chimpanzee, in partnership with the University of Waikato
• Chronic cystic pulmonary disease in a kea
• Investigation into pituitary failure in a hamadryas baboon, in partnership with Wellington Hospital
• Aggression and the female environment in captive hamadryas baboon, in partnership with Victoria University of Wellington
• Circadian and ontogenetic changes in activity and anti-predator responses of captive juvenile tuatara, in partnership with Victoria University of Wellington
• Baseline blood chemistry of sun bears, in partnership with the University of Montana
• Object manipulation and its links to self-awareness, in partnership with Emmanuel College, Cambridge
• The communication of ethics in management- A case study of Wellington Zoo, in partnership with Victoria University of Wellington
Wellington Zoo also participates in field work, also known as in situ conservation. Some recent projects include:
• Capture and health assessment of free-ranging New Zealand sea lions for attachment of satellite tags in the Auckland Islands, in partnership with the Department of Conservation
• Health assessment of short tailed bats after release on Kapiti Island
• Health screening of hihi at Karori Wildlife Sanctuary, in partnership with Karori Wildlife Sanctuary
• Monitoring kaka breeding and behaviour at Karori Wildlife Sanctuary, in partnership with Karori Wildlife Sanctuary
• Health assessment of free-ranging Hector's dolphins captured for satellite transmitter attachment around Bank's peninsula, in partnership with the Department of Conservation
• Vaccination of kakapo population on Codfish Island, in partnership with the Department of Conservation
• Blue duck juvenile leg banding and assessment at Tongariro River National Park, in partnership with the Department of Conservation and Blue Duck Trust
• Campbell Island teal health screening for release on Campbell Island, in partnership with Pukaha Mt Bruce, Department of Conservation
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